Expansion cone for radially expanding tubular members

Abstract

An expansion cone for radially expanding tubular members.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An expansion mandrel for radially expanding a tubular member, comprising:
 a housing including a tapered portion and another portion;  
 a plurality of circumferential grooves formed in the outer surface of the tapered portion; and  
 a plurality of axial flow passages defined within the tapered portion of the housing fluidicly coupled to the circumferential grooves.  
 
     
     
       2. An expansion mandrel for radially expanding a tubular member, comprising:
 a housing including a tapered portion and another portion;  
 a plurality of circumferential grooves formed in the outer surface of the tapered portion; and  
 a plurality of axial grooves formed in the outer surface of the tapered portion of the housing fluidicly coupled to the circumferential grooves.  
 
     
     
       3. An expansion mandrel for radially expanding a tubular member, comprising:
 a housing including a tapered portion and another portion;  
 a plurality of circumferential grooves formed in the outer surface of the tapered portion; and  
 a plurality of axial flow passages defined within the tapered and another portions of the housing fluidicly coupled to the circumferential grooves.  
 
     
     
       4. An expansion mandrel for radially expanding a tubular member, comprising:
 a housing including a tapered portion and another portion;  
 a plurality of circumferential grooves formed in the outer surface of the tapered portion; and  
 a plurality of axial grooves formed in the outer surfaces of the tapered and other portions of the housing fluidicly coupled to the circumferential grooves.  
 
     
     
       5. An expansion mandrel for radially expanding a tubular member, comprising:
 a housing including a tapered portion and another portion;  
 a plurality of circumferential grooves formed in the outer surface of the tapered portion; and  
 a plurality of axial grooves formed in the outer surface of the tapered portion of the housing fluidicly coupled to the circumferential grooves that are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing.  
 
     
     
       6. An expansion mandrel for radially expanding a tubular member, comprising:
 a housing including a tapered portion and another portion;  
 a spiral groove formed in the outer surface of the tapered portion; and  
 an axial flow passage defined within the tapered portion of the housing fluidicly coupled to the spiral groove.  
 
     
     
       7. An expansion mandrel for radially expanding a tubular member, comprising:
 a housing including a tapered portion and another portion;  
 a spiral groove formed in the outer surface of the tapered portion; and  
 a plurality of axial grooves formed within the outer surface of the tapered portion of the housing fluidicly coupled to the spiral groove that are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing.  
 
     
     
       8. An expansion mandrel for radially expanding a tubular member, comprising:
 a housing including a tapered portion and another portion;  
 a circumferential groove formed in the outer surface of the tapered portion;  
 a plurality of first axial grooves formed within the outer surface of the tapered portion of the housing fluidicly coupled to the circumferential groove that are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing; and  
 a second axial groove formed in within the outer surface of the other portion of the housing fluidicly coupled to the circumferential groove.  
 
     
     
       9. An expansion device for expanding a tubular member, comprising:
 a housing including a tapered first end and a second end;  
 one or more grooves formed in the outer surface of the tapered first end; and  
 one or more axial flow passages fluidicly coupled to the circumferential grooves.  
 
     
     
       10. The expansion device of  claim 9 , wherein the grooves comprise circumferential grooves. 
     
     
       11. The expansion device of  claim 9 , wherein the grooves comprise spiral grooves. 
     
     
       12. The expansion device of  claim 9 , wherein the grooves are concentrated around the axial midpoint of the tapered portion of the housing. 
     
     
       13. The expansion device of  claim 9 , wherein the axial flow passages comprise axial grooves. 
     
     
       14. The expansion device of  claim 13 , wherein the axial grooves are spaced apart by at least about 3 inches in the circumferential direction. 
     
     
       15. The expansion device of  claim 13 , wherein the axial grooves extend from the tapered first end of the body to the grooves. 
     
     
       16. The expansion device of  claim 13 , wherein the axial grooves extend from the second end of the body to the grooves. 
     
     
       17. The expansion device of  claim 13 , wherein the axial grooves extend from the tapered first end of the body to the second end of the body. 
     
     
       18. The expansion device of  claim 9 , wherein the flow passages are positioned within the housing of the expansion device. 
     
     
       19. The expansion device of  claim 18 , wherein the flow passages extend from the tapered first end of the body to the grooves. 
     
     
       20. The expansion device of  claim 18 , wherein the flow passages extend from the tapered first end of the body to the second end of the body. 
     
     
       21. The expansion device of  claim 20 , wherein the flow passages extend from the second end of the body to the grooves. 
     
     
       22. The expansion device of  claim 20 , wherein one or more of the flow passages include inserts having restricted flow passages. 
     
     
       23. The expansion device of  claim 20 , wherein one or more of the flow passages include filters. 
     
     
       24. The expansion device of  claim 9 , wherein the cross sectional area of the grooves is greater than the cross sectional area of the axial flow passages. 
     
     
       25. The expansion device of  claim 9 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the grooves ranges from about 2×10 −4  in 2  to 5×10 −2  in 2 . 
     
     
       26. The expansion device of  claim 9 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the axial flow passages ranges from about 2×10 −4  in 2  to 5×10 −2  in 2 . 
     
     
       27. The expansion device of  claim 9 , wherein the angle of attack of the first tapered end of the body ranges from about 10 to 30 degrees. 
     
     
       28. The expansion device of  claim 9 , wherein the grooves are concentrated in a trailing edge portion of the tapered first end. 
     
     
       29. The expansion device of  claim 9 , wherein the angle of inclination of the axial flow passages relative to the longitudinal axis of the expansion device is greater than the angle of attack of the first tapered end. 
     
     
       30. The expansion device of  claim 9 , wherein the grooves include:
 a flow channel having a first radius of curvature;  
 a first shoulder positioned on one side of the flow channel having a second radius of curvature; and  
 a second shoulder positioned on the other side of the flow channel having a third radius of curvature.  
 
     
     
       31. The expansion device of  claim 30 , wherein the first, second and third radii of curvature are substantially equal. 
     
     
       32. The expansion device of  claim 9 , wherein the axial flow passages include:
 a flow channel having a first radius of curvature;  
 a first shoulder positioned on one side of the flow channel having a second radius of curvature; and  
 a second shoulder positioned on the other side of the flow channel having a third radius of curvature.  
 
     
     
       33. The expansion device of  claim 32 , wherein the first, second and third radii of curvature are substantially equal. 
     
     
       34. The expansion device of  claim 32 , wherein the second radius of curvature is greater than the third radius of curvature.